A look back at 2012 in Brush

Posted:
01/08/2013 12:15:37 PM MST

Updated:
01/08/2013 12:19:45 PM MST

Last Chance was in the news in 2012 as a fire ravaged 45,000 acres in nine hours. (File photo/Brush News-Tribune)

April•Brush School District announces that those wishing to apply for employment can now do so through its online process of AppliTrack.•The annual tractor show is renamed to Morgan County Antique Tractor and Power Show with the location changed to the AMA Auction and Event Center, located just east of Brush.•The Fort Morgan Times and Brush News-Tribune announce their 2012 Angels Among Us at its annual Reflections banquet held at The Country Steak Out.•The NJC Rodeo Teams take the region by storm with Snyder resident Hayden Segelke as one of its team members.•Former executive director of the Morgan County Economic Development Corporation Kari Linker receives the S.A.G.E.

Shelley Griffith is named CEO of Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center in April of last year. (File photo/Brush News-Tribune)

award at the organization's luncheon. The award is presented to someone who offers support, assistance, generosity and encouragement to the MCEDC Board and others.•The Brush Board of Education rehires all administrators for the 2012-13 school year.•Brush High School senior Anthony Rios places in four events while a Brush girls relay team places three times at the Mountain Range Invitational at Westminster.•Announcement is made that Brush's new state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant is up and running.•Shelly Griffith is appointed Chief Executive Officer at Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Barbara Bradshaw. Griffith has been with the Brush facility since 2005.

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•Brush High School students - Tyler Stratman, Eric Lyne, Jacob Nichols, Victoria Milano and Brett Bostrom - whose science and engineering projects qualified them to enter the state round of the 57th annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair traveled to CSU in Fort Collins and many came out with more than just prizes as scholarships and internships were also offered to competitors. •Community gathers for Kayla Chadwick - a Fort Morgan teen listed as a missing person.

Severe weather wreaks havoc in Morgan County as hail as big as 1 1/2 inches in diameter falls in June. (File photo/Brush News-Tribune)

Family and friends organize a candlelight vigil to be held in the Museum Park Gazebo.•Brush junior Anthony Rios blazes to three race victories while leading team champion Beetdigger boys at the fourth annual Weld Central Rebel Roundup at Keenesburg.•Marilyn Edson and Jimmie Likely, co-managers of the EMCH Gift Shop, are named the 2012 Volunteers of the Year for East Morgan County Hospital.•Hometown Auto and Hardware, owned by Steve Albert and located at 1315 Edison Street, is welcomed to the Brush community with a ribbon cutting ceremony.•The American Legion Sagebrush Post 68 holds a ceremony at Bunker Hill to honor four veterans who were selected to participate in the 2012 Honor Flight Northern Colorado on May 6 and 7. Honored were Dan Duran of Fort Morgan, Steve Treadway, Harry Rieger and Chet McCoy, all of Brush.•The City of Brush approves a motion at its council meeting to remove the fees for online bill payments.•The Brush Board of Education reinstates wage increases for staff, as well as adds staff.•More than 700 benefit from East Morgan County Health's annual 9Health Fair event.•Brush High School student Anthony Rios was a double champion again while other Beetdiggers placed in multiple events during the Platte Valley Bronco Stampede. Rios set a new meet record with his 3200-meter winning time of 10:07.45. He also took home the 1600-meter championship (4:37.46).•The City of Brush observes 22 years of being named as a Tree City USA. To celebrate, third grade students from Beaver Valley Elementary gather at Doty Pond for several activities, including the planting of trees.May•Rosie Reitz is named the 2011-12 Brush News-Tribune Crystal Apple Community Choice Award winner at the annual event.•American Legion Sagebrush Post 68, Local Post and District Three Commander Chet McCoy is honored at the 92nd annual Department of Colorado Disabled American Veteran's Convention with the Top Driver in the State of Colorado award, after logging 75,000 miles worth of driving local vets to and from appointments.•Brush Middle School music teacher John McDonald retires after 18 years of service to the district.•The Beetdigger baseball team shuts down the Strasburg Indians 5-0, earning the right to move to the Great Eight State Tournament.•Brush High School Senior Alysse Milano ties for second in the final league and home meet of her Brush Beetdigger golf career at Bunker Hill Course, allowing her a position in the 4A State Tournament.•'Diggers Vince Albo, Brett Bostrom, Anthony Rios and Esteban Millan make history as the team members covered eight laps around the Eaton High School track faster than any Patriot or previous BHS relay at 8:17.76. As a result, the quartet moved into the No. 3 seed among 18 teams that were to compete in state competition at Jeffco Stadium.•Staff and students involved with the 2012 BHS yearbook are honored with a distinctive National Yearbook Program of Excellence award from the Jostens publishing company.•The 11th annual Family Campers and RVers Spring Fling rally brings more than 400 campers to the Brush Fairgrounds.•The Beetdigger baseball team makes their way into the Final Four.•Beetdigger track teams earn five medals at Jeffco Stadium during state competition.•Students at Brush Middle School receive recognition from the Brush Board of Education for improvement made on test scores.•Elizabeth "Betty" (Drummond) Likely celebrates her 103rd birthday at the Centennial Senior Center.•Brush resident and BHS custodian Tarry Cluff retires from the Brush School District after several years.•85 students graduate from Brush High School as the Class of 2012.•Ann Bloemker retires from the Brush School School District with 40 years of teaching to her credit.•The Brush Board of Education holds a special meeting to discuss the bond refinancing issue. It was agreed to use approximately $200,000 from the bond redemption fund to help pay off bonds three years ahead of schedule.•The medical staff at East Morgan County Hospital (EMCH) and EMCH Foundation award the 2012 Medical Staff Scholarship to Alysse Milano and Connor Weisser, graduating seniors of Brush High School.•For a third year in a row, Dr. George Hertneky and his optometry practice, Hertneky Vision Source, provide locals with free eye glasses and exams as part of the ‘Sight from the Heart’ annual event. In all, Hertneky Vision donated nearly $10,000 in eye care services and glasses.

June•Beaver Valley Elementary School teacher Gary Bloemker completes his mission after 32 years of teaching in the Brush School District.•The City of Brush announces that Phase 3 of the Downtown Improvement project will begin shortly after the 4th of July holiday.•Several Brush Middle School Crusaders receive honors as they break several track records at the Brush Invitational.•The Morgan County Antique Tractor and Power Show draws more than 500 in its inaugural event.•The Brush School District receives word that it is one of 52 projects in 29 states that will receive grant funding through the USDA. The grant of $285,778 will be used for a distance learning lab for Brush, Pawnee, Prairie and Wiggins School District.•Severe weather wreaks havoc in Morgan County as hail as big as 1 1/2 inches in diameter falls.•Fifty-six golfers participate in the Morgan County CSU Alumni annual golf tournament, held at Bunker Hill Country Club.•Due to dry weather conditions, an executive order banning fire works over the 4th of July is signed by Governor John Hickenlooper.•Brush FFA member and chapter secretary Emma Mortensen earns the title of runner-up during the State FFA Creed Speaking event, held in Pueblo.•Following their performances at the 2012 State Junior High Rodeo Finals in Monte Vista, CO, Quincy Segelke, Alex Odle and Sydney Odle rode their way into national competition in Gallup, New Mexico for the 2012 National Junior High Finals Rodeo.•Tyler Purvis joins the City of Brush where he will serve as the marketing specialist.•Fire forces evacuation in Last Chance, closing Highway 71 from Brush to Limon, as well as Highway 36 from Byers to Last Chance. The cause of the fire is listed as a vehicle blowing a tire that caused sparks.•National and state USDA officials visit Morgan County where they made the formal announcement regarding the Brush School District will receive grant funding.

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